Comparison of cellular proliferation on dense and porous PCL scaffolds

In this contribution, PCL (poly-epsilon caprolactone) scaffolds were prepared by solvent-casting/particle-leaching technique in the presence of two pore formers, PEG(4000) or sucrose molecules in different quantities (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55 w/w% PEG(4000)/PCL; 10, 20 w/w% Sucrose/PCL). The surface and bulk properties of the resulting scaffolds were studied by SEM, DSC and FTIR. SEM photographs showed that, macroporosity was obtained in the PCL structures prepared with sucrose crystals while microporous structure was obtained in the presence of PEG(4000) molecules. Average pore diameters calculated from SEM photographs were 40.1 and 191.2 mum for 40% PEG(4000)/PCL and 10% Sucrose/PCL scaffolds, respectively. The DSC and FTIR results confirmed that there is no any interaction between pore formers and PCL during structural formation, and both pore formers, PEG(4000) and sucrose, remained independently in the scaffolds. L929 mouse fibroblast cells were seeded onto PCL structures and maintained during 7 days to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell culture results showed that, 10% Sucrose/PCL scaffold was the most promising substrate for L929 cell growth due to 3-D architecture and macroporous structure of the scaffold.